AQA Sociology - Educational Policies + Globalisation

1944 Butler Act

Shaped by Meritocracy, Tripartite system, equal status - Grammar schools (20%, bright and academic - pass the 11+), Secondary Modern (75%, basic education, manual work) and Technical schools (5%, vocational training)

Parity of Esteem

Grammar schools were seen as superior, even if all schools were supposed to be equal.

1988 Education Reform Act

Conservative, Marketisation - Standardized, national curriculum, Published league tables, SATs, Formula Funding (based on number of students), Ofsted, Open enrollment - parental choice.

Parental Choice

Gerwitz - Myth of Parentocracy: privileged (all the capitals), semi-skilled (knowledge but not economic capital) and disconnected (don't value education, not concerned)

Aim Higher- 2003

LABOUR - Provides info and activities to encourage children to consider benefits of higher education, especially aimed at those whose parents don't have a higher education.

Free Schools - 2010

COALITION - Provide more specialized institutions run by local communities - SEND, Sport academies, forest school - criticized for misuse of funding and only in affluent areas.

Pupil Premium - 2011

COALITION - Funding given to schools to spend on disadvantaged pupils on FSM.

EAZ - 2005

LABOUR - Educational Action Zones - extra funding to schools in deprived areas to help reduce class gap. HOWEVER, "education cannot compensate for society" Bernstein - many still suffer from other factors.

FSM - 2014

COALITION - All children from infants to y2 - help to reduce stigma HOWEVER - expensive and a waste for m/c families.

Raising leaving age - 2015

CONSERVATIVE - Children now have to stay in some for of education until 18

Private Schools

Also known as Public Schools - 5% of school population, 29% of parliament members.

Old Boys Network

Provides social capital, higher chance of getting into elite jobs where 'everyone knows everyone'

Privatization of Education

Private companies buying academies, impacts policy making to ensure schools are profit making enterprises. PFIs (Private Finance Initiatives) own school buildings, restricts what can be built even if it benefits learning - KES 2005, new building.

Globalization Influence

Privatization, Marketisation and International Comparisons of League tables - led to Moral Panic - South Korea are far better, justifies new policies to make exams harder, raising entry requirements for trainee teachers.

Impacts of Globalization EVAL

+ Can check whether spending matches achievement as UK spends above average.
+ Can set bench marks for age expectations.
+ Share knowledge and strategies for teaching.
- Narrow measure of education
- Focuses on work rather than mental health
- Ignores needs and values, work ethic of local culture